BEIJING (AP) — Chinese hackers repeatedly penetrated The
New York Times’ computer systems over the past four months, stealing reporters’
passwords and hunting for files on an investigation into the wealth amassed by
the family of a top Chinese leader, the newspaper reported Thursday.
Security experts hired to
investigate and plug the breach found that the attacks used tactics similar to
ones used in previous hacking incidents traced to China, the report said. It
said the hackers routed the attacks through computers at U.S. universities,
installed a strain of malicious software, or malware, associated with Chinese
hackers and initiated the attacks from Chinese university computers previously
used by the Chinese military to attack U.S. military contractors.
The attacks, which began in mid-September,
coincided with a Times investigation into how the relatives and family of
Premier Wen Jiabao built a fortune worth over $2 billion. The report, which was
posted online Oct. 25, embarrassed the Communist Party leadership, coming ahead
of a fraught transition to new leaders and exposing deep-seated favoritism at a
time when many Chinese are upset about a wealth gap.
Over the months of
cyber-incursions, the hackers eventually lifted the computer passwords of all
Times employees and used them to get into the personal computers of 53
employees.
The report said none of the
Times’ customer data was compromised and that information about the
investigation into the Wen family remained protected, though it left unclear
what data or communications the infiltrators accessed.
“Computer security experts found
no evidence that sensitive emails or files from the reporting of our articles
about the Wen family were accessed, downloaded or copied,” the report quoted
executive editor Jill Abramson as saying. A Times spokeswoman declined to
comment further.
The Chinese foreign and defense
ministries called the Times’ allegations baseless, and the Defense Ministry
denied any involvement by the military.
“Chinese law forbids hacking and
any other actions that damage Internet security,” the Defense Ministry said in
a statement. “The Chinese military has never supported any hacking activities.
Cyber-attacks are characterized by being cross-national and anonymous. To
accuse the Chinese military of launching cyber-attacks without firm evidence is
not professional and also groundless.”
China has been accused by the
U.S., other foreign governments and computer security experts of mounting a
widespread, aggressive cyber-spying campaign for several years, trying to steal
classified information and corporate secrets and to intimidate critics. Foreign
reporters and news media, including The Associated Press, have been among the
targets of attacks intended to uncover the identities of sources for news
stories and to stifle critical reports about the Chinese government.
“Attacks on journalists based in
China are increasingly aggressive, disruptive and sophisticated,” said Greg
Walton, a cyber-security researcher who has tracked Chinese hacking campaigns.
China’s cyber-spying efforts have excelled in part because of the government’s
“willingness to ignore international norms relating to civil society and media
organizations,” he said.
The Times reported that
executives became concerned just before the publication of the Wen investigation
after learning that Chinese officials had warned of unspecified consequences.
Soon after the Oct. 25 publication, AT&T, which monitors the Times’
computer networks, notified the company about activity consistent with a
hacking attack, the report said.
After months of investigation by
the computer security firm Mandiant, experts are still unsure how the hackers
initially infiltrated the Times’ computer systems, the report said.
Business & Investment Opportunities
Saigon Business Corporation Pte Ltd (SBC) is incorporated in Singapore since 1994. As Your Business Companion, we propose a range of services in Strategy, Investment and Management, focusing Health care and Life Science with expertise in ASEAN 's area. We are currently changing the platform of www.yourvietnamexpert.com, if any request, please, contact directly Dr Christian SIODMAK, business strategist, owner and CEO of SBC at christian.siodmak@gmail.com. Many thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment